How to Write 奭 (shì) — Meaning “grand; majestic”

Imagine a huge (大) wave crashing over a high cliff (皐) — the scene feels grand and majestic. The unusual shape of the bottom part looks like a cliff with water splashing, tying the character directly to its meaning.

Pay attention to the top radical 大: the horizontal stroke should be long and balanced, with the two diagonal strokes spreading outward. The bottom section 皐 is complex — write it with the left vertical stroke first, then the middle strokes, and finally the right vertical; keep the overall shape compact so the character doesn't look too wide.

Common expressions include 奭然 (shì rán) meaning 'relieved' or 'suddenly enlightened' — used when a misunderstanding clears up, and 赫奭 (hè shì) meaning 'bright and grand', describing something resplendent. 盛奭 (shèng shì) means 'grand and majestic', often used for grand buildings or ceremonies.

奭 is a classical character, rarely used in daily conversation but found in literary or formal writing to evoke a sense of grandeur, such as in poetry or historical texts. It also appears in ancient names (e.g., the Duke of Zhōu's given name) and in some modern given names, adding a classical, majestic tone.

Common words containing 奭 include: 奭然 (shì rán) — relieved; suddenly enlightened; 赫奭 (hè shì) — Bright and grand; 盛奭 (shèng shì) — grand and majestic.